Endangered species

April 21, 2015

Corinna Stoeffl, Stoeffl Photography/Getty Images/Flickr RF

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The Gray Wolf has returned on its own to Washington, in the Kettle Range of northeast Washington and the Cascades south to the Teanaway River north of Cle Elum. All of this state's wolves are officially protected under state regulation. There is federal Endangered Species Act protection west of U.S. 97, but Kettle Range wolves are subject to state game laws.

Already, withdrawal of federal protection has led to the officially encouraged slaughter of wolves in Idaho. Protection in Washington is better. Still, poaching by alleged human beings -- who were caught -- decimated the Lookout Pack in the Methow Valley. A breeding female wolf was recently shot in the Teanaway River east of Cle Elum. State game managers wiped out a pack in northeast Washington that was killing stock.

Corinna Stoeffl, Stoeffl Photography/Getty Images/Flickr RF

7of13

The Gray Wolf has returned on its own to Washington, in the Kettle Range of northeast Washington and the Cascades south to the Teanaway River north of Cle Elum. All of this state's wolves are officially protected under state regulation. There is federal Endangered Species Act protection west of U.S. 97, but Kettle Range wolves are subject to state game laws.

Already, withdrawal of federal protection has led to the officially encouraged slaughter of wolves in Idaho. Protection in Washington is better. Still, poaching by alleged human beings -- who were caught -- decimated the Lookout Pack in the Methow Valley. A breeding female wolf was recently shot in the Teanaway River east of Cle Elum. State game managers wiped out a pack in northeast Washington that was killing stock.